Value Add: How the Gap Between the Bottom and Top of the Housing Market is Widening
The gulf between the housing haves and have-nots has widened considerably over the past two decades, as top-tier homes gained more value than less valuable, more entry-level homes and bottom tier homes in general lost more of their value during the housing bubble bust.
Q3 2016 Homeownership Rate: Signs of a Turning Tide?
An encouraging quarterly uptick in the homeownership rate in Q3, and a close examination of its core driving factors, suggests the decade-long streak of annual homeownership declines may be on the cusp of reversing.
Rapid Reaction: Q3 2016 Homeownership Rate
The Q3 2016 homeownership rate ticked up to 63.5 percent from 62.9 percent in Q2 on the back of strong owner household formation, but remains down slightly from Q3 2015, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Key Takeaways from the September New Home Sales Report
September new home sales increased 3.1 percent from August and 29.8 percent from a year ago, to 593,000 units at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR), according to the Census Bureau. The annual gain represents the largest year-over-year increase since February 2015.
Rapid Reaction: September New Home Sales
September new home sales rose 3.1 percent from August to 593,000 units (SAAR), after initially reported August data was revised sharply downward.
What Distinguishes the Markets Renters Want to Move to From the Markets Renters Want to Leave
The (real or imagined) allure of greener pastures beyond the horizon is a near-constant theme in the American national imagination, and regional migration – the movement of people across the country – is among the most important drivers of local differences in housing demand and desirability. And in the simplest sense, areas with lots of people looking to leave can often be considered less desirable, while markets with lots of people eager to move in are likely more desirable. But not always.
September Case-Shiller Forecast: Modest Acceleration in Home Price Growth Will Continue
According to Zillow’s September Case-Shiller forecast, the national index and both smaller 10 and 20-city indices look set to continue the acceleration in home price growth they exhibited in August.
August Case-Shiller: Pace of Home Price Growth Slowly Picks Up
August Case-Shiller data revealed a national housing market that is slowly picking up speed, growing slightly faster than in prior months but largely in line with our expectations.
Why Vancouver’s New Real Estate Tax Won’t Have a Big Impact on Seattle
I’ve been asked a lot lately: Will Vancouver’s new 15 percent tax on non-Canadian buyers of local real estate push more foreign buyers to consider Seattle-area real estate instead? I understand the concern, but I think in practice, these fears are likely overblown.
Donald Trump on Housing: Big on Identifying Problems, Small on Solving Them
Donald Trump has identified housing issues of real importance, including the need for tax reform and smarter regulations. But he offers very few prescriptions for fixing these problems, and the solutions he does offer largely come instead from establishment Republicans he seemingly so loves to hate.
